Volvo could be planning an entré into the World Touring Car Championship with its C30 Polestar. The model currently competes in the Swedish touring car championship, but has been taking part in what’s described as ‘evaluation races’ in WTCC this year. The possibility that the C30 Polestar will be a permanent entrant in the WTCC is taking on the air of being official as Volvo says:

“We can conclude that we are progressing in the right direction. Last season we were trailing the quickest cars by 0.6 seconds here. This year we are just 0.3 seconds off. This is very encouraging as WTCC is increasingly becoming an option for us in the future.”

Volvo and Polestar hold the number one spot in the Swedish touring car championship rankings and it’s possible that Polestar has put the pressure on to compete on a full-time basis in the WTCC. A second ‘evaluation race’ is for the ethanol-powered C30 Polestar is planned for October 31st in Japan, and according to further reports, Volvo has charged Polestar with preparing a financial and technical plan for the 2011 WTCC which would include homologation of the C30 to FIA standards.

Polestar has been working with Volvo since 1996 on its touring racing models and in 2009 the partnership had a hugely successful year at the Swedish touring cup. Polestar also developed the C30 Polestar Performance model which included a whole 405 hp on a four-wheel-drive model.

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We saw the Volvo C30 videos yesterday, and here’s a gallery of pics to get a closer look at the restyling of the hatch. The C30 Model Year 2010 will go on display at the Frankfurt motor show next week, where we will get a closer look at the revised front and the new, longer, list of optionals.

The C30 has taken on similar style elements to other models in the Volvo range, such as the XC60. The compact sports car now also shares more in common with the C70, also undergoing a restyling, and the new Orange Flame Metallic colour will also be available.

A whole nine different engine options are available with four petrol units, four diesels and a bio-ethanol version. Power ranges from 100 to 230 hp (2.5-litre T5) on the petrol units, while the diesel has a range of 109 hp to 180 hp (2.4-litre D5). The 1.6D at 109 hp is available only in DRIVe and DRIVe with start/stop technology.

Continue reading: Volvo C30 pics

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These videos show the Volvo C30 restyling to be presented at the Frankfurt motor show next week. A significant makeover to the front of the C30 brings it closer to the current style of the other Volvo models. The hatch is looking very smooth, and will be available in the R-Design sports kit, with both petrol and diesel engines. The DrivE version with reduced emissions and fuel consumption, will be available only with the 1.6-litre diesel with 109 hp. More videos, with some very funky music, after the jump.

Continue reading: Volvo C30 videos

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Here’s how Swedespeed sees the new Volvo C30 in this rendering produced before the C30 facelift is presented at the Frankfurt motor show. The Volvo C70 cabrio was recently presented in some pics, and its restyling will also be present at the show, in what is likely to be a similar look adopted on the C30, too.

Source | Swedespeed via AutoInternationaal

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Volvo has come up with a solution to combining fuel efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions and sports style with its C30, S40 and V50 in DRIVe versions with the exclusive R-Design outfit. The DRIVe models indicate ecological Volvos with a focus on lesser emissions. The C30, S40 and V50 with the 1.6 D engine at 109 hp, have emissions of 119 g/km.

The R-Design package is already available on all Volvo models, and presents a list of ten different colour combinations for both the interior and exterior. Additional elements include front and rear spoilers, Serapis 17-inch alloy wheels, and the C30 has a 90 mm sports exhaust.

The interior sees cream coloured leather with logo on the head rest, leather and alloy gear stick, sports pedals and steering wheel and blue colouring for the instrument panel. All models are lowered by ten millimetres as well.

Continue reading: Volvo DRIVe and R-Design for the C30, S40 and V50

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Volvo has announced the C30 Efficiency, a new version of its hatchback with lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions: less than 4.5 l/100 km and 120 g/km on average.

The C30 Efficiency needs 0.4 l/100 km less than the normal C30 1.6D from which it derives and emits 9 g/km less of CO2. The reduction in fuel consumption and emissions was obtained thanks to
improvements in aerodynamics, lower rolling resistance thanks to new tyres and higher gearing in 3rd, 4th and 5th gears.

Volvo has also announced a new PowerShift double clutch automatic transmission that will be used in conjunction with its 2.0D engine in the C30, S40 and V50 models. More details in the press release below the fold.

Continue reading: Volvo C30 Efficiency - below 4.5 l/100km

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